Seeing our clients succeed is our #1 goal. Here’s Leila from Brant County who recovered from her mistake and kept her past from limiting her future.
“I was convicted of assault in 1996 after my sister attacked my aunt and I went to stop her in defence. I had always had a negative relationship with her, and my gut response was never to talk it out or give myself space. I always felt the need to match her level of aggression. I realize now that I shouldn’t have responded with violence, and I’ve regretted it ever since. I learned a lot from that incident, and I definitely take a more passive, objective view when I find myself in conflict, and it has been very helpful in finding positive resolutions. Even though I’ve been a successful childcare provider and a seasonal company manager for a hotel chain, I knew that if I ever wanted to truly move on after the mistake I made, I would need to clear my name. Since my granted record suspension I’ve been able to volunteer in my community and apply for full-time employment, and it’s as if a cloud over my head has parted. My sister is doing a lot better now, and I’ve had the chance to reconcile with her. My pardon has given me the confidence to accept my actions and move on from them, and that has made me a lot more forgiving and empathetic towards her too.”